NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Iona University men's basketball landed three players on the 2026-27 Preseason All-Metro Teams, highlighted by graduate student Kosy Akametu's First Team selection, as the Gaels were picked fourth in the Metro Conference preseason coaches' poll.
 
Akametu was joined on the Preseason All-Metro teams by senior forward Keyshawn Mitchell and senior guard Kevon Vanderhorst, who were both selected to the Third Team. Iona received one first-place vote and totaled 131 points in the preseason poll.
 
Akametu enters his second season with the Gaels after making an immediate impact during the 2025-26 campaign. He appeared in 29 games with 28 starts, averaging 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 24.2 minutes per game. His 11.0 points per game ranked third on the team, while his 5.0 rebounds per game ranked second.
 
Mitchell, a 6-foot-11 forward from Brooklyn, enters his first season in New Rochelle after competing at Bryant and VCU. He started 34 of 35 games during his sophomore season at Bryant in 2024-25, averaging 8.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game while helping the Bulldogs win the America East Championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament. He also earned America East All-Tournament Team honors.
 
Vanderhorst joins the Gaels after two seasons at Drexel and one season at Brunswick Community College. The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 9.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game for Drexel in 2025-26, starting 33 games and playing nearly 30 minutes per contest. He recorded a career-high 30 points against Howard last season.
 
Fairfield was selected as the preseason favorite, receiving six first-place votes and 154 points. Merrimack was second with 148 points, followed by Siena with 132 and Iona with 131. Marist rounded out the top five.
 
The Metro Basketball Championships are scheduled for March 4-9, 2027, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The top 10 teams in the conference will compete for the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament.
 
The Metro Conference Basketball Tip-Off Show is scheduled for Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
 
Iona hosts its annual Maroon Madness at the Hynes Center on Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. The Gaels open the 2026-27 season on Nov. 2 at 7 p.m., hosting Vermont at the Hynes Center.

2026 Metro Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll

Pl.	School	Votes (FPV)
1	Fairfield	154 (6)
2	Merrimack	148 (3)
3	Siena	132 (2)
4	Iona	131 (1)
5	Marist	120
6	Quinnipiac	109
7	Saint Peter's	90 (1)
8	Mount St. Mary's	89
9	Sacred Heart	78
10	Manhattan	45
11	Canisius	34
12	Niagara	31
13	Rider	22

 

Preseason All-Metro First Team

Player	Year	Institution
Abdou Khadre Kebe	Jr.	Mount St. Mary's
Keith McKnight	So.	Quinnipiac
Bryce Eaton	Jr.	Saint Peter's
Declan Wucherpfennig	So.	Fairfield
Kosy Akametu	Gr.	Iona
Jadin Collins-Roberts	Gr.	Marist
Denver Anglin	Gr.	Merrimack

 

Preseason All-Metro Second Team

Player	Year	Institution
Brendan Coyle	Gr.	Siena
Todd Brogna	Sr.	Merrimack
Pace Prosser	Jr.	Siena
JoJo Wallace	Jr.	Sacred Heart
Tony Williams	So.	Fairfield

 

Preseason All-Metro Third Team

Player	Year	Institution
Kevon Vanderhorst	Jr.	Iona
Keyshawn Mitchell	Sr.	Iona
Griffin Barrouk	Gr.	Sacred Heart
Jack Graham	Sr.	Marist
AJ Lesburt	Gr.	Merrimack
Ben Tweedy	Jr.	Manhattan

 

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